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As well as offering a wide selection of downloadable content via the ever-present and newly named Google Play Market, the Samsung Galaxy Ace offers access to the bespoke Samsung Apps store.
Infuriately long-winded to set up and access on first use, the Samsung Apps store offers a largely similar array of app-based software as its Google-branded counterpart.
Things aren't a mere mirror image, however, since across a number of apps there are a range of price discrepancies.
Once the Samsung Apps store has finally kicked into life, the price differences become apparent with a variety of games, utilities and performance-enhancing Android apps on the Samsung store being a number of pounds more expensive when snapped up away from the Google-branded outlet.
Many games long past their peak are still on offer even if they've subsequently been replaced by franchise instalments.
There can be price differences and there's a lot less on offer - it doesn't really matter as you can just ignore it and use Google's excellent portal, but it may be initially confusing to some.
Maps
Google Navigation really is outstanding. This version of Android enables you to download a voice directions plug-in and, although the voice is very robotic, you can make that sacrifice because usability is top notch.
You can search for directions by speaking the place (which actually works!), typing in, or selecting a contact's address.
You can choose to have driving or walking directions, both of which are always accurate, from our experience. The GPS signal never falters and, unlike some sat navs (including Nav free and Nokia's Ovi maps), Google Maps tends to always select the shortest route – and even knew some shortcuts that we thought were our own little secrets!
Google Maps has improved fantastically over time, and while it runs rather slowly on this ageing phone, it still is a great app and asset to have in the pocket. You can sync your favourite locations from the desktop, tag where your friends live for easy access and although you don't have the power to see 3D buildings like the more high-end handsets, still get a rich mapping app to use.
